On-ice performance characteristics of elite and non-elite women's ice hockey players.

The purpose of this study was to compare skating performance and on-ice fitness of elite and non-elite women's ice hockey players. Twenty-three players who were participants in an organized women's hockey training program were tested. Seven of the elite players were members of the 1996/ 1997 Canadian National Team and 1 was from the Finnish National Team. Skating tests included (a) agility cornering S turn (AGL), (b) 6.10-m acceleration (ACC), (c) 47.85-m speed (SPD), (d) 15.20-m full speed (FSPD), and (e) Reed repeat sprint skate test (RRS). Elite players were older (25 +/- 5.34 vs. 19 +/- 2.65 years) and had better performance in the following variables: FSPD (1.88 +/- 0.11 vs. 1.96 +/- 0.86 seconds); RRS, drop-off percent (23.25 +/- 5.85% vs. 34.98 +/- 8.45%), drop-off time (3.43 +/- 0.78 vs. 5.35 +/- 1.23 seconds); sum of 6 repeats (101.96 +/- 2.74 vs. 112.78 +/- 4.61 seconds); and anaerobic capacity (AnCap; 5.35 +/- 0.14 W x kg(-1) vs. 4.87 +/- 0.19 W x kg(-1)) as calculated by the formulas of Watson and Sargeant (23). These results suggest that elite women's ice hockey players are older, faster skaters; have a better drop-off percent, drop-off time, and sum of 6 repeats in a repeat skate test; and have greater on-ice anaerobic capacity than non-elite players.